A Guide to Wedding Insurance

What is Wedding Insurance?
Wedding insurance is designed to offer you financial protection for one of the most important and special events in your life. The policy provides cover for financial losses due to illness, accidents or other unforeseen events such as a supplier failing to fulfil their commitments due to financial failure, either in the build up to or on your wedding day. The policy from WedCover will also cover civil or renewal of vows ceremonies.

What does wedding insurance cover?
A typical wedding insurance policy will cover the things below, however it is important to read all policy documentation so you fully understand what you are and are not covered for.

• Cancellation or curtailment (or cutting your wedding short!) – Cover for any irrecoverable expenses you have paid for, or are legally liable to pay, as a result of your wedding being cancelled for reasons such as your illness or death or that of close relative.
• Financial failure of wedding services suppliers – Cover for losses as a result of a wedding services supplier financially failing or going into bankruptcy or liquidation.
• Ceremonial clothing – Cover for the cost of replacing or repairing you or your attendants’ (e.g. bridesmaid or usher) ceremonial clothing which has been lost, stolen or damaged.
• Photography and video – Cover for various costs if your professional photographer or videographer does not turn up or theft or damage or non-delivery of photos due to a technical fault or negligence.
• Wedding rings, flowers, attendants’ gifts and wedding cake – Cover for loss or theft of, or damage to, wedding rings, flowers, attendants’ gifts and the wedding cake.
• Wedding cars and transport – Cover for costs associated with the non-appearance of wedding cars or transport, or its mechanical breakdown.
• Wedding gifts – Cover for the loss or theft of, or damage to, wedding gifts while being stored by you, an attendant or close relative. Cover will also apply while the gifts are in transit or on display at the reception.
• Personal liability – Cover for any claim, or series of claims, made against you for your legal liability for bodily injury or property damage directly related to the wedding ceremony or reception.

Wedding insurance will also cover optional extras such as marquees, excess waiver, honeymoon , guest personal liability or ceremonial swords, of which some have been explained below, however it is important to ensure the appropriate additional premium has been paid.

• Guest personal liability - Cover for liability is extended to your guests.
• Marquee – Cover for the loss or theft of, or damage to, any marquee during the period of hire.
• Excess waiver – Cover for the excess you are required to pay as part of any section of cover in the event of a claim.
• Honeymoon – Cover for the cancellation of your honeymoon in the event your wedding is cancelled.

When should I get wedding insurance?
it should be purchased as soon as possible or on the same day you book your venue, become committed to make payments or when you start paying deposits or make other payments. Most policies let you take out a policy up to two years in advance of your wedding date.

Do I need wedding insurance?
That is for you to decide based on your own circumstances. while it may seem like an unwanted expense, it can provide valuable cover for financial losses in the event of covered unforeseen circumstances. The cost of a wedding can be huge, and often what was an original budget does overrun, therefore it is important to protect yourself from losing money in the event something does happen causing you to cancel your wedding. Not every eventuality is covered, though, which is why you need to invest a little time to understand what’s cover and what isn’t.

Do I need public/personal liability cover?
Liability insurance is there to protect you against any legal claims for injury or death, or loss of property. The guest liability option allows you to extend that cover for the acts or omissions of your guests. Most wedding insurance policies will include liability insurance as standard, and it is often required by venues and vendors. It is important to check with the venue whether liability insurance and/or guest liability insurance is required.